My dissertation, as part of my Product Design degree at Nottingham Trent University, explores the workplace and significantly its evolution through people, digitisation and sustainability. Below you can find the poster I created in support of the paper.
Interestingly, the findings highlighted the cultural shift in the way we work with the move towards digitalisation and increased flexibility. The post COVID workplace has accelerated these changes as employees are forced to adapt to a more agile working style. Although, proving the importance of face to face/impromptu collaboration, community, and sense of camaraderie within the office.
Aims
The aim of the study was to investigate and discuss the evolution within the workplace. To explore historical and current movements and make informed predictions as to what the future holds for the workplace. The paper offers a broad insight into five key areas which have been identified as most salient. These themes are as follows; the history of workplace to present day, people, digitalisation and sustainability.
People are at the heart of every workplace; the methodology of design is increasingly becoming more analytical and scientific; expectations of working environments are growing simultaneously.
Research
Following a comprehensive study of relevant literature, the paper’s main focus was to addresses the questions and theories within the literature review.
Using carefully selected methodologies the paper reflects on the views and opinions of senior workplace consultants gathering their strategic foresight on psychology and human behaviour, to explore its relevance and comparisons of contrasting attitudes towards the office. A survey of over 100 respondents was undertaken to better understand the discussion from a users perspective.
Findings
The paper highlights a range of areas in the workplace. With profound change inevitable, the future of the workplace is contingent on several emerging factors prevalent today, such as sustainability, digitalisation and a change in attitudes. Research suggests the future workplace will be progressively flexible, with even more emphasis on relaxed working styles with the rise of intelligent buildings, AI and more.
What is clear is that companies who invest in their people, workplace, and research and development will thrive in a time where change happens exponentially.
